Has anyone here put their boots into the loan program? I've had mine sitting in a display box in various rooms of my house for 20 years, and every time I see them now I think it is a shame for them to just take up space in my house if there is someone who could get some use out of them. I don't have kids myself or any nephews that are in danger of getting into Texas A&M, so donating them is the only way I see that they'll ever be used again.

I think it's a great idea. Mine got handed off to a Sergebutt. I'm getting to the point now where I wonder what to do with my ring.

I was same way. My brother '74 wore them, then gave them back and they sat in my office for years. Donated about ten years ago. I got an email from the first cadet who wore them. Got to meet him at our 45 year reunion and spent some time with him. He went to Navy. Got another email a year or so later from another cadet. Have not heard anything since so don't know if they haven't been loaned out or that cadet never bothered to contact me. In any case, I think it is a great program.

My brother (class of 73) and I were the same shoe size so I wore his boots. I have them in my house somewhere. I honestly don't know where they are.

chick79 said:

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My brother (class of 73) and I were the same shoe size so I wore his boots. I have them in my house somewhere. I honestly don't know where they are.

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I'm '73, sold mine and never heard anything since. A classmate sold his too, never heard a word until sometime in the mid-90's he got a call out of the blue from the current owner. He bought them back, I'm not sure what he did with them, he might have given them to his son who was also a Yell Leader.

Donated mine about 3-4 years ago, because they were doing what yours are doing what yours are doing now.

Process is really simple. Call Corps Center, send your boots via UPS or FedEx or whatever. You'll get a nice thank you letter and a tax document in a few weeks. Easy peesy.

I donated my boots with my bull riding spurs that I don't think are allowed anymore, my saber, and a Sam Brown belt that I don't know why I had it. Total tax value was something like $2600

I borrowed a saber and sam brown my zip year. Always thought I'd buy a saber one day after I had a real job, but it has been over 15 years now. Would have just been taking up space I guess. I'm holding on to the boots in the hopes I have a kid that can wear them one day. If not, will likely donate. Or maybe get into horse riding.

I've used my saber in the Army for some weddings.

Thankfully it's the exact same saber the Army actually uses

My brother, Harvey 64, and I shared our senior boots. We donated them to the loan program as soon as it started.

I was an outfit CO and only bought my boots on account of the Army giving me a $700 for summer camp or something. I needed a saber for D&C, so the Corps Center loaned me saber and sand brown. I never knew who gave it to the Corps Center but I'm glad they did.

This post made me think about giving something back. Thank you.

The Corps Center turned over the boot loan program to the CCA a few years ago.

I think the literally ran put of space and the CCA had capacity so volunteered to run it.

Completely different scenarios.
2024 was a ~22 yard run up: From behind the endzone to the 10.
1985 was a 10 yard run up: back of endzone to front
2024 starts as a compressed band trying to squeeze between the field and the Zone. The band members are front to back with no space between them before running up. They are not, and cannot be, in any regimented formation in that space. This creates an accordian effect as the back rows have to wait for the front rows to run before the back can move. Row 1 has to run the full ~22 yards, the back row has to run about 5 yards.
1985 starts as block band and runs up as a block band. The entire band can move as one because they are already at a 2 step interval before moving. The entire band runs the 10 yards together.

Quad Dog said:

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Completely different scenarios.
2024 was a ~22 yard run up: From behind the endzone to the 10.
1985 was a 10 yard run up: back of endzone to front
2024 starts as a compressed band trying to squeeze between the field and the Zone. The band members are front to back with no space between them before running up. They are not, and cannot be, in any regimented formation in that space. This creates an accordian effect as the back rows have to wait for the front rows to run before the back can move. Row 1 has to run the full ~22 yards, the back row has to run about 5 yards.
1985 starts as block band and runs up as a block band. The entire band can move as one because they are already at a 2 step interval before moving. The entire band runs the 10 yards together.

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You are missing it all together. Notice how the 85 band runs up and stops and doesn't figit, plus there is a faster run up.

My buddy was one of the drum majors from class of 85. He was the one who pointed it out to me. He said the current band looks sloppy, and he's not incorrect.

But go ahead and keep goaltending.

You can see fidgeting or lack of fidgeting from a grainy 40 year old video shot from the top of the stadium?
Again, in 1985, I bet there was plenty of fidgeting while they were forming block band perfectly behind the end zone before run up. In 2025 they form block band perfectly at the 10 after run up because they do not have the opportunity to do so beforehand.

Rabid Cougar said:

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The wife/Bonfire Buddy still request the Boots every now and again! Can't donate!

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Now that's impressive!

Oh Good Bull!

Rabid Cougar said:

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The wife/Bonfire Buddy still request the Boots every now and again! Can't donate!

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User name checks out?

Ha! Yea that thing…thanks. I'll blame the 25+ years but it's likely what I thought it was called back then too!

I donated my boots and my saber about 6 years ago. I usually get an email and photos of the cadet who gets them each year. When boots are no longer wearable (doesn't take that many years) they attempt to return the boots to you.

I donated my boots and saber when it became apparent that my son had no interest in the Corps. That's the last I saw or heard of them. It would've been nice to get a note from whomever has them in his zip year -- I suspect the boots are long gone -- but all I can do is hope someone benefited.

I'm lost. Is this thread about donating senior boots or band formation or jealous non regs.

I admire all of you who donate your boots or saber so that someone can get the use of them and save them a little money. It would be so easy just to have them in a closet and not move an inch in 15 or 20 years. And, it seems cool someone is walking across campus, where you once walked, in those same boots.

Very classy and well done!

What happened to the old "fill them with cement and stick a lamp pole and wiring in there and get yourself some table lamps" folks?